With the last FIFA break of 2023 now behind us, it is club football all the way till March. Their fates intertwined in two competitions, Chelsea and Newcastle meet for Saturday’s 3pm Premier League clash at St James’ Park, then reconvene 24 days later at Stamford Bridge for a Carabao Cup quarter-final.

The trip to Tyneside can be a tricky one for the Blues: only at Arsenal and Liverpool (both 15 defeats) have we sustained more Premier League losses (13). The Magpies have also won each of their last four home top-flight games without conceding, including that controversial 1-0 against the Gunners.

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Yet until last season’s draw and loss, Chelsea had won seven of the eight most recent league meetings between the two clubs. On all fronts Tottenham (78 defeats) are the only club to have been beaten by the Blues more times than the Tynesiders (76).

Mauricio Pochettino’s side are in good form, already securing more points against teams above us at the start of the day this season than the whole of 2022/23. Chelsea have recorded an average of 2.8 goals per game over the past five league fixtures.

Chelsea have also managed three away wins in a row for the first time since a run of four between February and April 2022. Back-to-back 4-1 victories at Burnley and Tottenham have contributed to a run of four games unbeaten on the road with a goals aggregate of 10-2.

Chelsea team news

As ever following an international break, Pochettino will check for fatigue before selecting his matchday squad, especially late returning internationals Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. However, fellow midfielder Romeo Lavia isn't far off making his first appearance, and Levi Colwill and Malo Gusto have shaken off knocks.

The Chelsea coach has never seen fewer than eight absentees since taking the reins, but may very soon have a host of returnees, including Christopher Nkunku. The summer signing has yet to feature in a competitive match, though with three goals in pre-season the France sharpshooter looked a key piece in a gradually-forming jigsaw.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Jackson’s chance conversion rate has shot up in the past two matches from eight to 44 per cent (four goals from nine attempts), and substitute Armando Broja earned the equalising penalty against Man City.

The hosts are one of three clubs Raheem Sterling most likes notching against, with five of his eight to date opening the scoring. Cole Palmer’s four Premier League goals have all come from the spot, and only three players ever in the competition have netted their first five in that fashion (Keith Curle, Luka Milivojevic and Jan Molby). Newcastle are one of just three clubs yet to concede from a penalty.

Chelsea have fared well this season against attacking teams, exploiting space even against well-drilled ones like Newcastle. It’s not all about strikers: two defenders, opening goalscorer Thiago Silva and Sterling assister Reece James, have joined the 16-strong contingent who have contributed towards goals in all competitions.

Although Eddie Howe has a great track record against the Blues, Poch has won four of his past five clashes with the Magpies.

Opposition scout – Newcastle

In the past Howe has left late-returning internationals such as Bruno Guimaraes or Joelinton on the bench for the weekend fixture that follows.

This fixture also comes in a perilous period of Newcastle’s season, with absences piling up, their progress in Europe in the balance and a critical trip to Paris on Tuesday.

Newcastle enjoyed a great start to the season on the back of Howe’s methodical approach, their triggered pressing, intensity and potent attacking trio delivering the points. More recently the coach has bemoaned a lack of alternatives ‘to lighten the load’ on his regulars amid a jarring run of three defeats in five games on all fronts.

The spine of the team, such as centre-back Sven Botman, midfielders Guimaraes (available again after suspension) and Sandro Tonali (still banned), plus Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson upfront, have all been out of action.

Botman’s preferred partner Fabian Schar left the Swiss camp early and fellow ever-present, midfielder Sean Longstaff, is now a doubt, but the risk of Miguel Almiron missing this game seems low. Isak’s return should allow Anthony Gordon to revert to the wing.

Last time out at St James’ Park, Gordon’s disputed goal defeated Arsenal. Just before the international break, however, it took quick decision-making and saves from Nick Pope to keep the scoreline respectable at 0-2 away to troubled Bournemouth.

The loss of giant left-back Dan Burn has robbed Howe of a useful chaos agent, but handed openings to Cobham graduates Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, who is ineligible against his parent club. Kieran Trippier is likely to play on the left.

Chelsea vs Newcastle – the history

Way back in September 1907 at Stamford Bridge, Newcastle United became Chelsea’s second ever opponents in the top flight, a 2-0 Division One win in which debutant goalkeeper Jack Whitley also claimed our first ever clean sheet at that level.

The host side has often dominated these fixtures since, Chelsea claiming all the points in 46 of the 77 played in London, and the Magpies doing so in 40 of their 77 up the A1.

The Blues were the visitors on 3 September 1930 when the long-standing record attendance for St James’ Park was set. The big draw was returning ‘Mighty Atom’ Hughie Gallacher, recently snapped up by the Londoners for a sensational fee just below £10,000. An unprecedented 68,386 crammed into the stadium with a reputed 10,000 more locked out.

In more recent years Chelsea have been far more successful, raiding the Magpies’ nest seven times in 21 visits, including two 3-0s, and drawing five times. However, Joe Willock netted the only goal of the game on the Blues’ last visit on 12 November 2022. Hall, now a Toon loanee, started for Graham Potter’s Blues.

Silva service

Should he be involved on Saturday, Thiago Silva will become our oldest ever outfield player at 39 years, 64 days, surpassing winger Dickie Spence (39 years, 57 days) who hung up his boots on 13 September 1947. The Brazil legend’s equaliser against Man City already made him the oldest goalscorer in our history. At 41 years, 218 days goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer remains our most senior player overall.

Road improvements

So far this season Chelsea have recorded just the 14th highest points tally at home in the Premier League. More positively, we boast the third best away record in the division along with a healthy goal difference – similar to 2021/22, when we finished third in the overall table.

Last season Chelsea ranked 15th for home performance but were 11th best away from Stamford Bridge (with a -10 goal difference). Season to season, there has been an improvement on the road from an average of one point per game to two, but a marginal drop at home from 1.32 to 0.86.

Factors obviously include the quality and tactical approach of opponents, which will even out over the course of a campaign. But comparing simple points earned, in three out of the four seasons results on our travels have outstripped those at the Bridge.

Chelsea’s home/away advantage

2023/24 1.14 more points per away game

2022/23 0.32 more points per home game

2021/22 0.32 more points per away game

2020/21 0.05 more points per away game

That 2008 away record

Fifteen years ago next month Chelsea set an enduring Premier League record for successive away victories which began with a 2-0 at Man City and included a similar scoreline in our favour at Newcastle. The 11th win in a row, a 2-0 at Bolton on 6 December 2008, was followed by a draw at Goodison Park, ending the remarkable run.

The record held for 13-and-a-half years until May 2021, when Manchester City managed a 12th – by winning 4-3 at St James’ Park. The Blues gained revenge for being surpassed by beating City 1-0 in the Champions League final two weeks later.

On all-fours

The draw with Man City last time out was the 13th time Chelsea have shared eight goals with another team, the second against the Citizens, and the first since the stunner at home to Ajax in 2019.

The first 4-4 against City was our second ever, recorded in February 1937, in which our original league goals centurion George Mills bagged a hat-trick. Portsmouth are the only other opponent where that scoreline has been recorded twice.

Chelsea's 4-4 draws

Jimmy Clare RIP

Jimmy Clare, a graduate of our youth scheme who made one first team appearance under Geoff Hurst as a half-time substitute in a 3-2 victory at Bolton in October 1980, sadly died on Wednesday aged 64.

Everyone at Chelsea FC sends sincere condolences to Jimmy’s family, friends and team-mates.